Report on the Annual Meeting and Potluck: Saturday, August 22, 2015
The 12th annual meeting of the Hairstreak Chapter was held in the E.V. Komarek Science Education Center at the Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy in northern Leon County. During a leisurely walk around the fields south of the Beadel House prior to the meeting, Jerrell Daigle found his life White M Hairstreak. Congratulations, Jerrell!
The meeting was attended by 27 chapter members and past officers. There were also four guests as we welcomed Jim Cox, Kara Driscoll, Joyce Kiskadden, and Yvonne Zola to our annual meeting. Prior to lunch, attendees were given a presentation by Kara Driscoll on Milkweed Tuesday at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. This project is dedicated to restoring the Monarch butterfly population through growing milkweed plants for distribution to the Big Bend Community.
The 12th annual meeting of the Hairstreak Chapter was held in the E.V. Komarek Science Education Center at the Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy in northern Leon County. During a leisurely walk around the fields south of the Beadel House prior to the meeting, Jerrell Daigle found his life White M Hairstreak. Congratulations, Jerrell!
The meeting was attended by 27 chapter members and past officers. There were also four guests as we welcomed Jim Cox, Kara Driscoll, Joyce Kiskadden, and Yvonne Zola to our annual meeting. Prior to lunch, attendees were given a presentation by Kara Driscoll on Milkweed Tuesday at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. This project is dedicated to restoring the Monarch butterfly population through growing milkweed plants for distribution to the Big Bend Community.
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Click to jump to - Colorado Trip - Skipper Id Workshop - Tallahassee Butterfly Count - Wakulla Field Trip - Florida Caverns
Reversed Roadside-Skipper
Field Trip Report – Blackwater River State Forest- Saturday, August 15, 2015
On August 15th, fourteen participants including local expert Mary Ann Friedman explored the northwestern portion of the Blackwater River State forest. We were excited to find one of our target species, the Reversed Roadside-Skipper (1), in a seepage slope with patches of cane off Eadie Cotton Rd. Blackwater is the only site in Florida where it has been found. (Please go to our website to see a picture of this butterfly.) Of the 30 butterfly species seen, the Georgia Satyr was the most common (30). Other highlights were Little Metalmarks (7), Dusky Roadside Skippers (3), White M Hairstreak (1), and Common Wood Nymph (3). Six species of odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) were seen including the Seepage Dancer and Yellow-sided Skimmer. Three beautiful orchid species were seem- Southern White Fringed Orchid (Platanthera conspicua), Orange Fringed Orchid (Platanthera ciliaris), and Yellow Fringeless Orchid (Platanthera integra).
On August 15th, fourteen participants including local expert Mary Ann Friedman explored the northwestern portion of the Blackwater River State forest. We were excited to find one of our target species, the Reversed Roadside-Skipper (1), in a seepage slope with patches of cane off Eadie Cotton Rd. Blackwater is the only site in Florida where it has been found. (Please go to our website to see a picture of this butterfly.) Of the 30 butterfly species seen, the Georgia Satyr was the most common (30). Other highlights were Little Metalmarks (7), Dusky Roadside Skippers (3), White M Hairstreak (1), and Common Wood Nymph (3). Six species of odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) were seen including the Seepage Dancer and Yellow-sided Skimmer. Three beautiful orchid species were seem- Southern White Fringed Orchid (Platanthera conspicua), Orange Fringed Orchid (Platanthera ciliaris), and Yellow Fringeless Orchid (Platanthera integra).
Report on the Field Trip to Colorado,
July 8-15, 2015 - Submitted by Eric Shaw
On July 8, 2015, eight members of the Hairstreak Chapter (Travis & Karen MacClendon, Brian & Sheena Lloyd, Virginia Craig, Amy Sang, and Eric & Cynthia Shaw) met on the outskirts of Denver to begin a week-long tour of the butterfly wonders of Colorado....... for more download the PDF below
July 8-15, 2015 - Submitted by Eric Shaw
On July 8, 2015, eight members of the Hairstreak Chapter (Travis & Karen MacClendon, Brian & Sheena Lloyd, Virginia Craig, Amy Sang, and Eric & Cynthia Shaw) met on the outskirts of Denver to begin a week-long tour of the butterfly wonders of Colorado....... for more download the PDF below
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Report on the Skipper Identification Workshop
Sunday, July 19, 2015 THANK YOU to Sally Jue, Dean Jue, and David Harder for presenting a terrific grass skipper Identification workshop. The fourteen in attendance received a nice handout on an Introduction to Grass Skippers as well as a list of 41 north Florida grass skippers including their genus, months seen, broods, abundance and wingspan (inches). Twenty skippers were discussed in detail with both ventral and dorsal views and key field marks, side by side species comparisons with noteworthy distinctions, and lots of lively discussion. The workshop definitely bolstered the confidence of attendees in their ability to identity those tough skippers in our area. Back to top |
Report on the Tallahassee NABA Butterfly Count,
Saturday, July 25, 2015 The twelfth annual Tallahassee NABA Butterfly Count Saturday, July 25th was a big success with 15 Hairstreak Chapter members and guests participating. The count was conducted within a 15-mile diameter circle centered in western Tallahassee near Florida State University. There were four parties covering the north, south, east and west areas along with one yard counter. A total of 51 species were seen and 1,583 individuals counted (a new record). The Carolina Satyr was the most common species seen (193). There were no new species for this count. Forty-eight Golden Banded-Skippers were seen at Elinor Klapp Phipps Park (2nd highest ever for this count). Fran Rutkovsky found our only Spring Azure in her yard. THANKS to all 15 participants and especially to our compiler David Harder. Back to top |
Report on the 13th Annual Florida Caverns State Park Count, Saturday, June 6
The Hairstreak Chapter conducted the annual Florida Caverns State Park Count on June 6, 2015. Ten Chapter members walked 5.5 miles in the Park and surrounding areas, recording a total of 36 species. The weather was warm and sunny.
Notable sightings were a Juniper Hairstreak, a Harvester, a Juniper Hairstreak, and a female Sachem. Especially notable were 21 Silvery Checkerspots. This is the second highest total in the 12-year history of this count. The Marianna area hosts a disjunct population of this checkerspot and is the only Florida location where they regularly occur.
Thanks to Karen, Dean, Brian, Dave, Travis and Karen, and Jeff and Kim, who participated in the butterfly count. And a special thanks to David and Sally for participating and compiling the list of the butterfly species and the numbers of each that we saw. Our results will be published in the North America Butterfly Association’s 2015 butterfly count report along with the other approximately 500 counts that occur annually nationwide.
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The Hairstreak Chapter conducted the annual Florida Caverns State Park Count on June 6, 2015. Ten Chapter members walked 5.5 miles in the Park and surrounding areas, recording a total of 36 species. The weather was warm and sunny.
Notable sightings were a Juniper Hairstreak, a Harvester, a Juniper Hairstreak, and a female Sachem. Especially notable were 21 Silvery Checkerspots. This is the second highest total in the 12-year history of this count. The Marianna area hosts a disjunct population of this checkerspot and is the only Florida location where they regularly occur.
Thanks to Karen, Dean, Brian, Dave, Travis and Karen, and Jeff and Kim, who participated in the butterfly count. And a special thanks to David and Sally for participating and compiling the list of the butterfly species and the numbers of each that we saw. Our results will be published in the North America Butterfly Association’s 2015 butterfly count report along with the other approximately 500 counts that occur annually nationwide.
Back to top